Stylish Holiday Homes: September Picks

by Shabana Adam | 11 September 2012

Holiday home in Toledo, Spain

The Falcon’s Tower, Taroudant, Agadir, Morocco

This beautifully renovated farmhouse is set in an unspoilt southern corner of Morocco and combines traditional architecture with super-stylish interiors, including the owner’s collection of Moroccan antiques, Berber carpets and modern paintings. The extensive grounds feature palm and olive trees, exotic flower-filled gardens, huge outdoor terraces and a swimming pool.

There’s a butler, maid and cook, breakfast is included and other meals can be provided on request and served on one of the terraces or in the dining room. This peaceful haven is within walking distance of the shops, souks and sights of nearby Taroudant and is the perfect base for exploring the area’s palm groves, oases and deserted sandy beaches.

What’s more the owner has specialist knowledge of Berber culture and can help arrange day trips to the silver markets of Tiznit and the popular beach resort of Agadir.

Sleeps up to 13 (six bedrooms), from £1,200 per week.

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Beatnik Central, Brighton, Sussex

Planning a party weekend for a large group in Brighton and don’t know where to stay? We have the perfect place - Beatnik Central is a large and very cool holiday home arranged over four levels and designed for groups of up to 27.

Quirky and stylish, it’s furnished with an eclectic mix of recycled, reclaimed and antique pieces which work well with original features like stain glass windows, exposed brick walls and fireplaces. On the lower-ground floor there’s a huge, open plan kitchen, dining and entertaining space featuring a long table made of reclaimed wood which comfortably seats 20.

What’s more it’s just a five minute walk to Brighton’s seafront, restaurants, shops and buzzy nightlife.

Sleeps up to 27 (five bedrooms), from £3,110 per week.

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Lioness Fountain, Kannavia, Nicosia, Cyprus

This ultra-modern house with slick interiors and floor to ceiling windows contrasts with its rural surroundings in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. It’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries and feels like your own personal wellbeing retreat thanks to private outdoor pool with reverse current turbine for stationary swimming training and massage, and a gym which includes high-tech equipment and a treadmill.

Just a kilometre away is the picturesque village of Kannavia where you can sample local dishes at the village restaurant or play Backgammon with locals at the coffee shop. This is Cyprus with a difference, far from the tourist crowds on the coast – here you‘ll discover amazing wildlife, beautiful mountain landscapes, painted Byzantine churches and monasteries (some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites), vineyards and ‘wine villages’ with small wineries offering wine tasting tours.

Sleeps up to eight (five bedrooms), from £1,968 per week.

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QuerQuay Bolthole, Kingswear, Dartmouth, Devon

This lovely, quirky hideaway is located right next to the River Dart. The owner, a local artist, has converted the ground floor of his pretty stone cottage into a cosy holiday home packed with character, colourful artwork and original features like beams and stone floors.

Relax on the swing-chair in the enclosed garden and take in panoramic views of the River Dart, or enjoy al fresco meals in one of the sunny patio areas. It’s just a short walk to the Higher Ferry which takes you directly to Dartmouth, and to Kingswear, where there’s a Marina, local shops and pubs and a station where you can take a steam train to Paignton.

Sleeps up to four (one bedroom), from £450 per week.

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Villa Aqua, Agios Lazaros, Mykonos, Aegean Islands, Greece

London-based Italian owner Francesco and his Greek wife fell in love with Villa Aqua because of its location, amazing views and sense of light and space inside, after searching the island for three years. It took them another six months to fully refurbish the property and the result is a lovely house which makes the most of its incredible hilltop location overlooking the sea and beaches.

Outside there are several terraces spread across different levels, an elegant infinity pool with sun loungers and a pergola which provides shade for the outdoor dining area. Set in a very peaceful location away from the Mykonos crowds, it’s all still within easy reach of local beaches as well as the buzzy town of Chora with its vibrant nightlife.

Sleeps up to 10 (four bedrooms), from £1,500 per week.

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Apartment Heart of Toledo, Castilla la Mancha, Spain

This stylish and comfortable apartment was recently renovated and is very tastefully decorated. It’s located in a former 16^th century Renaissance palace and retains many of the building’s original features including high ceilings, beams, exposed stone walls and a courtyard with a fountain.

Toledo is a listed World Heritage Site where three civilizations, Muslim, Jewish and Christian coexisted for years – there are churches, synagogues, mosques, convents, walls, bridges and towers to visit and explore, plus a fantastic outdoor museum. It’s located on a rocky hill surrounded by the Tajo River in central Spain, close to Madrid.

Sleeps up to four (one bedroom), from £307 per week.

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